The side effects of radiotherapy for cervical cancer are more terrible than imagined

Cervical cancer is one of the common gynecological tumors that endangers women's health. We need to actively prevent it. At present, the main clinical treatment methods for this disease include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and drugs. Radiotherapy is generally recommended for patients in the middle and late stages, and the effect is better. However, it is well known that radiotherapy has great side effects. Let's take a closer look at the side effects of radiotherapy for cervical cancer.

Radiation therapy for cervical cancer

Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays or radioactive particles to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy may be used for cervical cancer:

As part of primary treatment..For some stages of cervical cancer, the preferred treatment is radiation therapy alone or after surgery. For other stages, radiation and chemotherapy together (called concurrent radiation) is the preferred treatment. Chemotherapy helps radiation work better.

Treat cervical cancer that has spread or has come back after treatment. Radiation therapy may be used to treat cancer that has spread to other organs and tissues.

The two types of radiation therapy most commonly used to treat cervical cancer include:

External beam radiation

Brachytherapy

External beam radiation

One way to give radiation is to aim x-rays at the cancer outside the body. This is called external-beam radiation therapy (EBRT). The treatment is like a regular x-ray, but the radiation dose is stronger.

Each radiation treatment lasts only a few minutes, but it usually takes longer to get you in position for treatment. The procedure itself is painless.

When radiation therapy is used as the main treatment for cervical cancer, EBRT is often given with chemotherapy (called simultaneous radiation). Usually, a low-dose chemotherapy drug called cisplatin is given, but other chemotherapy drugs may be used. Radiation therapy is given 5 days a week for 6 to 7 weeks. Chemotherapy is given at scheduled times during radiation therapy. The schedule is determined by which drug is used.

EBRT by itself can also be used as the primary treatment for cervical cancer in areas where the cancer has spread or cannot tolerate chemoradiation.

Possible side effects of EBRT

Side effects of external beam radiation therapy for cervical cancer may include:

Fatigue (tiredness)

Upset stomach

Diarrhea or loose stools (if radiation was given to the pelvis or abdomen)

Nausea and vomiting

Skin changes

Skin changes: When radiation transfers through the skin to the cancer, it damages skin cells. This can cause irritation ranging from mild, short-term redness to flaking. The skin may release fluid, which can lead to infection, so areas exposed to radiation must be carefully cleaned and protected.

Radiation cystitis: Radiation to the pelvis can irritate the bladder (radiation cystitis), causing discomfort and the urge to urinate frequently.

Vaginal pain: Radiation can make the vulva and vagina more sensitive and painful, and sometimes cause discharge.

Menstrual changes: Pelvic radiation can affect the ovaries, causing menstrual changes and even early menopause.

Low blood counts: For example, anemia (low levels of red blood cells) can make you feel tired. Leukopenia (low levels of white blood cells increase your risk of serious infection).

Blood counts tend to be lower, and fatigue and nausea are more severe with chemotherapy and radiation. These side effects usually improve within a few weeks after you stop treatment.

The most important complications caused by radiotherapy for cervical cancer are rectal and bladder complications. Their occurrence is related to factors such as narrow vagina, improper location of the radiation source in the cavity, excessive anteversion or retroversion of the uterus, and excessive radiation dose. In addition, age, pelvic inflammatory disease, and certain diseases such as diabetes and hypertension are likely to aggravate radiation damage.

1. Systemic reaction: It causes a reaction in the digestive system, which manifests itself as common nausea.

2. Local reactions: It can cause skin problems, such as peeling, itching, eczema, blisters, etc. Oral reactions such as dry mouth, redness, swelling, pain, and ulcers may develop into erosion and bleeding in the later stages, which may make the patient unable to eat and affect treatment. Other parts, especially the irradiated area, may also bleed. There are many cases of intestinal bleeding in clinical practice.

3. Others: Common side effects include bone marrow suppression, leukopenia, etc., and may also cause acute or subacute pelvic inflammatory disease. Some patients also developed severe bladder complications such as hematuria, frequent urination, and urgency one year after treatment.

These side effects bring varying degrees of pain to patients and affect the prognosis of treatment, so during radiotherapy, attention should be paid to conditioning and care. Radiotherapy has certain limitations. For example, for early-stage patients and younger people, radiotherapy can cause certain damage to the ovaries and destroy the function of the ovaries. Therefore, careful consideration is required when choosing a treatment method.

Cervical cancer can bring tremendous mental pressure to patients, affecting the normal life of the patient and his or her family. Patients may experience emotional reactions such as shame, fear, depression, anger, and despair, which can have a depressive effect on the body's immune function, causing cancer cells to grow actively and the condition to worsen, forming a vicious cycle. Therefore, it is very important to comfort patients and build up their confidence in overcoming the disease.